Page 28 of Recipes for Life

“You’ve had one foot out the door our entire relationship, if you even want to call it that. You always made it clear that your priorities were your daughter, Wynn, and work. It worked for me because I’m not looking to settle down right now. It’s not a big deal, Odette; we are adults who can share one last meal and part as friends.”

I released a breath that I didn’t realize I had been holding. “Thank you.” I said, and I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped. “You made this the easiest breakup I’ve ever had.”

“Happy to oblige.”

We spent the rest of the dinner catching up on work, Lux, and making mindless small talk. When it came time to part ways for the evening, he offered me his hand, and when I took it, he pulled me into him. “It’s been a pleasure, Odette. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

I squeezed him a little too tightly. “You, too, Benji. You deserve it.”

We parted, and I gave him a small wave before walking to my car.

Chapter 20

Murphy

Walking up to the checkout counter at my favorite Thai place usually brought me a sense of euphoria, knowing I was about to eat the best Pad Thai chicken. A tingling sensation that caused a weird mental awareness of something started to prickle at me.Odette is close.Don’t ask me how I knew, but I would always know when she was around.

It was then that I saw her walk in, holding his hand, and her gaze was firmly stuck on where their hands were joined. They followed the hostess to the back booth, and he took her coat off before she sat, and I felt like a hand was crushing my heart. He looked at her, taking her hand again while they looked over the menus, and she’s laughing.

Walk away. This is what you deserve.

It felt like my heart was going through a meat grinder, and I was leaving pieces of it behind in the restaurant. They handed me my food, and I grabbed it, knowing it would be going into the trash the second I got home.

Walk away. This is what you deserve.

I started toward the exit with one glance over my shoulder, finding her attention was still firmly on him. I felt like the walls were closing in on me.Can you feel me dying from here?

Walk away. This is what you deserve.

I made it to my car before the panic attack started.She’s happy without me. Can you feel me dying here?

Walk away. This is what you deserve.

I haven’t had a panic attack this bad sincethat night—the night I banged on Wynn’s door, the night I knew my marriage was over.

“You called my dad?”

“Act like a child, get treated like one.”

The memory of Wynn’s voice was so real, it felt like she was standing next to me, and it felt like I was back there instead of reliving that night inside my mind.

“Son, get in the car,” my dad barked out.

“I…”

“Get in the car, now,” he yelled, and my dad never yelled.

I climbed into the car, and he threw the car into reverse, his knuckles white with how hard he was gripping the wheel.

“They think I should sign the papers. Can you believe that? I can’t do that. I love her.”

The car went from going a cool fifty-five to veering off at the next exit and whipping into the gas station that was an exit away from my parents’ house.

“Are you seriously asking me if I canbelievethat your wife wants a divorce after you cheated on her? Are you really that fucking selfish, Murphy? Tell me you aren’t. Tell me this person sitting in front of me isn’twho I raised.”

“She won’t even let me explain. She’s giving up on us.”

My dad leaned over the seat and grabbed my collar and got in my face. “You gave up, Murphy! You gave up. You became this asshole who no one recognizes. The only thing you can do issign the papers!” I don’t think my father had ever yelled at me before tonight, and I just looked at him with my mouth open.

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